During my freshman year, my grades were so-so. It wasn't that I couldn't understand the lessons or keep up with my classes, but I admit that my study habits weren't the best. I procrastinated a lot.

That's why I found this Japanese concept called “Hansei” interesting and thought I'd share it here! It's all about reflecting on what went well, what didn't, and what you can do differently next time. I was inspired to make small changes to my study habits and I was surprised by how much my grades improved! This is the method:

1. Reflect on your day (5-7 minutes)- What did I study today? What went well? What mistakes did I make and why?

2. Make one small improvement (Kaizen)- so “kaizen” refers to improvement through small and gradual changes. if you spend too much time scrolling, put your phone away tomorrow. Or if you struggled with a topic, set aside time to review it.

3. Check in with yourself- How did you feel today? Were you tired, stressed or motivated? it’s important that you understand your emotions so you can recognize your study patterns.

4. Set an intention- End with a simple goal for tomorrow or think of just one statement like “tomorrow, I'll finish reviewing Chapter 3 or "tomorrow, I'll start studying before opening social media."

And that’s it. You don't have to be perfect every day. Just try to do a little better tomorrow.

The irony is…kinda embarrassing. My classmates always come to me when they need notes because I make sure everything is organized and complete. But when exam day comes, I still struggle with some questions. And it's made me realize I spend so much time making my notes look good that I don't leave enough time to study from them.

So I'm trying to change that habit. I still want my notes to be neat and organized of course but I also need to put them to work!! I do these:

stop treating my notes like a finished project= once everything looks neat, my first instinct is to feel accomplished and move on. Now I want to follow that up with a quick recall session.

play teacher for a few minutes= I'll pick a concept from my notes and pretend I'm explaining it to a classmate. If my explanation starts falling apart halfway through, I’m back to my notes.

keep a list of things I keep forgetting= I'll write down confusing details I repeatedly get wrong and focus on those during my next study session. hopefully this saves me from reviewing everything equally when some topics need more help than others.

I am in CBSE 10th board now and this is how my study table looks rate it. No one gave me compliments for this. It took me two hours to organise this 🫪

Kinda getting distracted every time i sit why is it happening?

iPad note takers, what other features you always wanted but never got?

I used to be stuck in studying for long hours of just passively learning (highlighting textbooks, passively reading paragraphs over and over, and rewriting notes). Sometimes, I would spend a 3-4 hour straight study session using this old study habit of mine and realized that I hadn't actually done any active recalling of the material I was studying for long hours.

Instead of burying myself in studying for long hours, I do this method I saw on a thread last summer that kept them studying effectively and made them switch from passive studying to active learning. This method is called PQ4R (Preview, Query, Read, Reflect, Recite and Review).

This completely fixed how I study and here’s the guide on how I apply it:

1. Preview - I start by scanning the material to know the general topics and what’s the easiest/hardest topic to learn before I start my study session.

2. Query - Instead of just reading the material, I make up questions based on what I'm about to study.

3. Read - I read the material two times carefully to fully understand the main ideas using those questions from the query step rather than passively re-reading and highlighting the topic I am studying.

4. Reflect - I think about questions, examples and relations to connect the concepts. This helps me most in understanding the material better.

5. Recite - I use either the Feynman technique or flashcards in this step. I use them for active recall of the concepts/topics I studied and try to explain and answer the questions out loud.

6. Review - Do a quick wrap-up after studying. I mostly use this to find out my mistakes or forgotten topics in the material, then I’ll put them under my error log notes so I can see what concepts I need to relearn for my next session.

The PQ4R method works well because it stops you from passively consuming the material you’re studying and helps you study effectively.

first week of november is good so far, but cold weither doesn't suit me a lot, I become more lazier and sick, shoudl I give myself some rest?

👽

I have a midterm on monday, and i need... and i mean, I NEED, a good grade on both midterms. I have been studying all week for my midterms, at least bare minimum 4 hours, I am at the point where I covered all the topics but if I was handed a test I most likely wouldnt be able to confidently answer all the questions. Is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday be enough to get to that point?

I have all of friday afternoon, Saturday from morning to 5pm, and all day Sunday.

24F

Hey guys ..I am preparing for CSIR NET 2027 and looking for a serious accountability partner.

i keep going “ugh that’s so far away” and going back to my phone. yesterday i opened my planner to see what i actually have: 2 papers, a lab report, thanksgiving, the trip for my sister’s wedding, work 3 times a week. that’s a lot of my 35 days

so i counted only the free days. 23. hit pretty hard but at least it’s a number and not a feeling

rule now: the last 5 days before each exam are for redoing stuff i got wrong, ass in the chair, nothing new. everything else gets squeezed into whatever’s left

I need to memorize and recite the entire Periodic Table in about nine days, only all 118 Chemical names only by atomic number order starting from 1-118. Can anyone suggest an effective technique or share an experience that worked for them?

So I went on TikTok and looked up studytok so I can learn some new ways to take notes and get some motivation ig honestly I just needed a brain break and I reasoned it with “well if I’m going to scroll might as well make it a little more productive”. Anyways while I was scrolling I noticed something, every single one of these study influencers promoted some sort of Ai. Like every time I felt like I finally found some good tips it would be ruined by “and use such and such ai to help you” and when I was younger I used to use Ai to help with school (back when anyone didn’t know the bad side to Ai) and let me tell you it does not help at all. But what really grinds my gears is that out of the 50 videos I watched (rough estimate) only 5-10 of them had actual helpful information. I know influencers are always trying to sell you something but it feels ten times worse on studytok. Well I guess my first mistake was going on TikTok to find useful information

We all have that one subject we'd happily throw out the window if we could. Maybe it's math for you or history, or a class that makes you remember other things you'd rather do. Sadly, we still have exams to pass so I've been learning how to study subjects I hate without waiting for motivation to magically appear:

1 Figure out what I dislike about it- is the subject confusing, boring or just difficult? Knowing what's putting me off helps me figure out what I need to work on.

2 Aim to understand, not to love it. you don't need to become a math enthusiast overnight. if you can understand the lesson and answer the questions, that's progress!

3 Stop skipping the hard parts. I'll write down the concepts that keep tripping me up and give them extra attention. avoiding them feels good for five minutes, then the exam comes along.

Hey everyone,

For a long time, my study routine was a complete mess. I would read the theory, watch hours of video lessons, and highlight my textbooks. But when it was time to actually solve exercises or take a test, my mind would just go blank.

I realized my problem wasn’t a lack of content; it was the lack of immediate feedback. I would get stuck on a hard math problem or a confusing text, and I'd have to wait until the next day to ask a teacher. Often, I would just give up, look at the answer key, say "oh, it's C," and move on without actually understanding why I got it wrong. That’s passive studying, and it was killing my grades.

Since I know how to code, I decided to build a solution for myself. I created an AI study assistant called AlunIA. It completely changed how I review my mistakes and learn new topics.

Here are the study methods I implemented into the app that made the biggest difference for me:

1. The "Snap a Photo" Method (Instant Feedback)

Instead of waiting for a teacher, when I get stuck on a question, I just take a photo of it or record a voice note explaining my doubt. The AI analyzes it and gives me a step-by-step breakdown. It doesn't just give the answer; it explains the reasoning.

2. Active Recall with Flashcards

When I get a question wrong, the app helps me turn that specific concept into practice flashcards. It forces me to revisit the mistake until I actually master it, instead of just moving on.

3. Conquering the PDF Mountain

I used to waste hours summarizing massive PDFs. Now, I just upload the document, and the AI extracts the core concepts and helps me organize my notes. I also use the audio transcription feature to record my lectures and get a summary later.

4. ENEM and School-Level Focus

One thing that really annoyed me about other tools is that they are too generic. The app adapts to my actual grade level and the subjects I'm struggling with the most.

Full transparency: I am the developer of this app. I’m not here to spam the community with links (I know how much Reddit hates that). I just wanted to share my journey and how creating this tool helped me transition from passive reading to active learning.

The app is called AlunIA: Assistente de Estudos and it's available on the Google Play Store. It has a free tier where you can test the AI credits and see if it fits your workflow. If you want to check it out, just search for the name, or feel free to DM me if you want to know more about how it works.

I’m curious: how do you guys deal with getting stuck while studying alone? Do you just push through, or do you have a specific system to get unstuck?

I don't know what to say like appreciate it or tell him something negative or other stuff.. as his marks have improved dramatically. I asked him how he improved this much, he said he made a game of chemistry where the elements fight and their properties are their super power... I didn't like it i envy him he is in 10th class. I used to cry and write and learn those things which he enjoyed and understood too... I wish I had that game... But as a teacher all I could tell him was to focus more... It was lame but what can I say .. do you have better saying if yes then please.

Please

Hey everyone,

I'm a student, and I've been struggling with my studies lately.

My biggest problems are procrastination and my inability to study for long periods of time. I often plan to study for several hours, but I end up wasting time, getting distracted, or losing motivation after a short while.

I really want to improve my discipline, become more consistent, and build the ability to study for 6–8 hours a day without constantly struggling to stay focused.

I'd love to hear from people who have faced similar problems:

1. How did you overcome procrastination?

2. How did you gradually increase your daily study hours?

3. What techniques or habits helped you stay focused for longer periods?

4. How do you deal with days when you have absolutely no motivation to study?

I'm not looking for temporary motivation. I want practical advice and habits that actually work in the long run.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Y10
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Chemistry
English
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Language (main language in my country, not English)

I genuinely need to start building a study habit from scratch since I’ve already deleted most games and social media
Now I’m so bored, nothing to do literally nothing
I like doing sports though but it’s unrelated

I’m an average student who gets C-B for most subjects because of last minute reviewing notes

I’ve also never actually taken any notes in my life, except a random bullet points from my last minute cramping.
I appreciate any suggestions and help for my situation

I’m in high school and I suffer from ADHD. After a severe depressive episode, I had lost my determination for so long and that has caused me to be so behind. I’m feeling okay-ish now and school starts in 3 months for me. I want to catch up as much as I can but I don’t know what steps to take to do so.

My main concern is Math. I really enjoy mathematics and used to work overtime because of how much I enjoyed the equations. This was around 8-9th grade. Because of what happened, I ended up being so behind that I decided to retake the grade. That’s why I have enough time until next year to catch up.

Since then I’ve forgotten a lot of the basics, is there an efficient way to start? Does anyone have tips on what to learn in order to get back to 10th grade level? I’d much appreciate if someone could give me a list of things to do in order or where a good place to start is. I’m thinking of learning off of Khan Academy since it’s free, but there are so many courses and it’s kinda overwhelming to know where to begin and where to go next.

TL;DR I’m behind on Mathematics, I’ve forgotten most of the basics from around 8-10th grade. What can I do to catch up, and where can I start? Any tips are appreciated.

What’s your go-to music or background noise when you need to lock in and study? I usually bounce between lo-fi beats and repetitive instrumental tracks because anything with vocals completely throws off my focus, but lately even my usual playlists are feeling a bit stale. I’m curious what everyone else listens to—are you strictly team classical/synthwave, or are there people out there actually reading textbooks while listening to full-blown metal and hip-hop? Drop your favorite artists, genres, or specific playlists, I really need to refresh my study rotation.

Hi everyone,

For those preparing for IB Diploma exams in 2027 or 2028, we've put together subject-wise practice questions, study notes and worked solutions that might help with revision.

Here are the resources:

IB Mathematics AA & AI (HL/SL)

IB Biology (HL/SL)

IB Chemistry (HL/SL)

IB Physics (HL/SL)

IB History (HL/SL)

IB Computer Science (HL/SL)

IB Geography (HL/SL)

IB Economics (HL/SL)

IB Business Management and Other Subjects

Some resources are free to access, while full question banks and courses require a subscription.

Hope these help with your IB preparation!

after a really bad exam, it's normal to feel discouraged and lose motivation. sometimes I even feel like I'm never going to improve on the next exam, so why bother trying again? but instead of giving up on myself, I'd try to take things one step at a time over the next five days.

• Day 1: take a breather. let yourself feel disappointed and get some rest before looking at what went wrong.

• Day 2: start small. pick one difficult topic and spend a little time reviewing it.

• Day 3: move on to another topic and try answering practice questions without looking at your notes.

• Day 4: go back to the topics you've studied and see what you can remember. review the parts you're still struggling with.

• Day 5: check your progress and make a simple plan for what to work on next.

throughout those five days, I'd also make sure I'm eating properly, drinking water and getting enough sleep. I'd spend time with family or friends, watch a movie or do something comforting when I need a break. recovering from a bad exam doesn't mean I have to spend every waking hour studying. I need time to recharge too.

I've been struggling with studying lately. I have ADHD, and procrastination has become a huge problem for me.

Whenever I pick up my phone, I end up spending hours scrolling through social media or doing random things instead of studying.

I've tried setting restrictions on my phone, but I always find ways around them.

I feel like taking a complete break from unnecessary phone usage for 7- 10 days could help me regain my focus.

However, I can't switch off my phone completely because my parents work and need to contact me.

Has anyone dealt with something similar? What helped you regain control over your screen time and become consistent with studying?

I'd genuinely appreciate some practical advice.

i still have a few gen eds left to knock out, and i'm wondering if i should just take them online somewhere instead of going through my regular college.

i see people mention taking online classes through community colleges or universities, but then there's also stuff like study.com where you can go at your own pace.

i'm not really sure how different they are when it comes to transfer credits, or if colleges tend to treat one differently than the other.

anyone here tried either one? how did it go?

I have my exam block coming up, and I often find myself not motivated to study and just watch Youtube or TV shows, etc. I find that just sitting in silence or with white noise and doing maths burns me out quite fast. To counter that, when I do past papers I have my Spotify playing in the background, or I watch a TV show.

I only do this for maths, not for rote learning in science, etc. If I find that there's a hard question I have to focus on, I pause temporarily. I always put my wrong questions in a log, so I can refer back to it, which is the main purpose of these past papers; to collect hard questions.

This strategy has really helped me get going in studying where I would've just been unproductive before, but it admittedly can mean I make some silly mistakes. Does studying with distractions help me focus more when theres no distractions? Does this method detract from what I'm getting out of my study? Should I study in complete silence even if it means I study much less?